Fabricated building construction



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March 7, 1950 E. J. FESER FABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION l3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1945 3 1 WWW [Om lawn/e0 iii-s52,

March 7, 1950 E. J. FESER 2,499,478

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March 7, 1950 E. J. FESER FABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION l3 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 5, 1943 III/IIIII/l II/ll VIII l3 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 3, 1943 March 7, 1950 E. J. FESER FABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION l3 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed May s, 1945 EDWARD r1 ifs-s52,

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March 7, 1950 E. J. FESER FABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION l3 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed May 3, 1943 March 7, 1950 E. J. FESER 2,499,478

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(III- VIIIIIIIIIIII: 'III} In March 7, 1950 E. J. FESER FABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION l3 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed May 3, 1943 Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" 2,499,478 FABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Edward J. Feser, Los Angeles, Calif.

1943, Serial No. 485,414

Application May 3,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to building construction and is particularly directed to a type of building the parts o which may be manufactured or fabricated in a manufacturing establishment and shipped to various locations for assembly. There is a uniformity of many of the parts which can be fabricated in large quantities resulting in economy of manufacture and ease of assembly at the localon of the building.

My invention contemplates a new form of building construction particularly adapted to insulation against external heat and cold, as well as lending itself readily to artificial heating and cooling equipment within the building.

This new type of building construction is suitable for many uses such as homes, stores, restaurants, small oflice buildings, schools, etc. I do not mean to exclude larger structures such as large office buildings, factories and the like, but I foresee an earlier adoption of my invention in the class of structures which I have particularly mentioned.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description which follows and a reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a building embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a floor plan of the same building. The preferred form of construction which I have used to illustrate my invention is that of a home or residence.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the building taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section illustrating a part of the foundation, the frame and wall construction.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detailed section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, particularly illustrating my system of cross frame members in the frame and wall construction.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in cross section of a part of the frame and wall structure shown in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a section taken Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a horizontal detail section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure '7.

Figure 10 is a vertical detail section taken on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 6.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary front view of the exterior of the building illustrating one of the on line 8-8 of windows and ventilating louvers in the foundation.

Figure 12 is a section taken on the line l2-l2 of Figure 11, particularly illustrating the window construction and the ventilating passage communicating with the louvers in the foundation.

Figure 13 is an enlarged detailed section taken on line l3-l3 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is an enlarged vertical detail section taken on the line I l-l4 of Figure 11.

Figure 15 is a vertical section taken on the line 'l5-l5 of Figure 3, illustrating in particular, one of a plurality of supporting pillars and the manner of assembling the associated parts of the frame structure, floors and walls at the upper junction of the pillar.

Figure 16 is an enlarged section taken on line iii-l6 of Figure 15.

Figure 1'7 is a horizontal section taken on line l'i-ll of Figure 15, particularly illustrating the central joining of the frame construction in the ceiling of the central portion of the building.

Figure 18 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional detail taken on the line Iii-l8 of Figure 2, illustrating particularly the construction of the circular partition wall.

Figure 19 is a view generally similar to Figure 15 but taken on the line l9-l9 of Figure 1 and shows one of the small windows located in the second story of the building and an associated light well for lighting the central chamber of the building.

Figure 20 is a section taken on line 20-20 of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is an elevation partly in section showing a suggested modification of the general structure to provide for a porch or patio of the character illustrated on the left hand side of Figure 1.

Figure 22 is a section taken on line 22-22 of Figure 21, particularly showing the preferred form of door famb construction.

Figure 23 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 23-23 of Figure 21, illustrating the wall and ceiling connection at the point indicated.

Figure 24 is a fragmentary sectional view of the dome on the upper story of the building.

Figure 25 is a fragmentary View taken in plan in direction of the arrows 25-25 of Figure 24.

Figure 26 illustrates one of a plurality of armate beams comprised in the frame of my building construction.

Figure 27 is a fragmentary view of an arcuate sheathing securing member of T cross section tion of the wall structure employed at the point of Joining the exterior sheathing to the frame structure of the buildins.

Figure 28 is an enlarged section on line 28-28 of Figure 27 similar to the section illustrated in Figure 8, showing a modified form of construction.

Figure 29 is a fragment of a sealing pad used in the modified construction of Figure 28.

Figure 301s another section on line 30-30 of Figure 21. t

Figure 31 is a perspective illustrating a modified form of sheathing plate which may be used in the construction.

Figure 32 is a plan. view illustrating a preferred type of sectional forms to be utilized in casting the concrete footing on foundation.

Figure 33 is an elevation, partly broken away, of one of said forms.

Figure 34 is a transverse section taken on line 34-34 of Figure 33. Figure 35 is an enlarged detail section showing a modified form of Venetian blind structure which may be substituted for that illustrated in Figure 12.

Figure 36 is a detail 3H6 of Figure 33.

Figure 37 is a vertical section, partly in elevation and broken away, illustrating a sliding door construction which may be employed in any of the vertical walls of the building.

Figure 38 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 38-48 of Figure 37.

Figure 39 is an enlarged section taken on line 38-39 of Figure 21.

Figure 40 is a longitudinal fragmentary secof a window taken along line 40-40 of Figure 11.

Figure 41 is a plan view of a building layout device.

Figure 42 is a vertical shown in Figure 41.

For convenience in identifying the building construction, I have illustrated-a residence comprising a first story 40 and a second or upper story 4|. My preferred form of construction utilizes a wall curvature producing a general dome shaped building of the type illustrated.

Referring to Figure 2, which is the fioor plan, the building is divided into a central chamber or living room L which is circular in wall outline. Surrounding the living room in a circular arrangement as illustrated is a plurality of rooms such as a reception room R, masters bedroom M, a hallway H, a bath room B, a nursery N, a linen closet C, a service room S, a kitchen K, and a dining room D, all on the first floor of the building. I have also shown a patio P.

A circular stairway 45 leads from the first fioor to the upper fioor following the curvature of the circular wall 46 between the living room and the adjacent outer rooms. The circular wall 46 includes a relatively spaced series of load supporting columns 41 which support the second story of the building, as will later be described.

The front entrance to the house is indicated at E and is provided with a door 48 opening into the plan section taken on line section of the pilot post room into the living room is a door 49,

the same manner as the doors 48 and 49 provide communication between various rooms of the house as shown.

I provide a plurality of windows as indicated at 50 on the lower floor, the upper floor also incorporating windows similar to the windows 50,

with light wells 53,

smaller windows 52 associated the latter. of which (shown in Figure 19) provide exterior lighting for the living room.

The upper story 4| may be divided into two or more rooms by means of suitable partitions as indicated at 54.

I may also provide a rear entrance generally indicated at 55.

The basic elements of the house structure include a foundation, 9, frame structure, and suitable sheathing. These will all be described in more detail subsequently.

Referring to Figure 3, the preferred form of foundation comprises a concrete footing 60 which is-generally circular in plan to conform to the outer wall of the house. This circular plan is broken at the patio and the foundation generally defines the rectangular configuration of the patio or whatever configuration it may be given.' The foundation also includes concrete piers 6| disposed below the several columns 41 to support the load sustained thereby.

I provide a base flooring of concrete 62 covering the entire ground fioor area of the house over which may be laid a finishing material 53 which obviously may be of hardwood, linoleum, tile, or any other desired or suitable finishing material. In some types of building the concrete itself may be utilized as the finished fioor.

From an examination of Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that the lower story 40 of the building has a general exterior contour of somewhat spherical frustrum shape and includes an arcuate exterior wall structure whose lower peripheral edge is supported upon the foundation footing 60.

This exterior wall structure curves upwardly and inwardly and is so arranged that its upper end portion will be supported upon the several columns 41 which also support the floor joists of the second or upper story 4|. The several columns 41 also support the upper story 4| which has an exterior wall structure of semi-spherical dome contour that connects with and forms a continuation of the exterior arcuate wall structure of the lower story. It will further be ob served that these exterior wall structures are of similar construction and that they have, besides the exterior sheathing 64, an interior sheathing 65 spaced from said outer sheathing, and an intermediate dividing wall 66 spaced from both the outer and inner sheathings.

The building thus includes a triple exterior wall structure which provides an outer air space 61 and an inner air space 68. As will be subsequently explained, these air spaces are utilized for insulating purposes.

Proceeding with a description of the framework of the building, and with particular reference to Figures 3, 15, 16 and 20 of the drawings, it will be noted that each load supporting column 41 is substantially cross-shape in transverse section and is, after erection, surrounded by a hollow finish housing 41a of pillar form.

Each column 41, as a pre-fabricated unit, comprises two or four structural steel angles 10 of substantially equal lengths arranged in relatively spaced back-to-back relationship and in pairs upon opposite sides of a plurality of diametric flange plates 1| to which the finish housings 41a and the partitions 46 will subsequently be connected. These angles are secured to the plates 1| at intervals by means of rivets 12 and their opposite flanges are secured together by rivets 13 and intermediate which pass through spacer plates or washers 14, as shown in Figure 16.

In Figure 15 it will be seen that the lower ends of the angles 10 extend somewhat beyond the lower edge of the flange plate 1| to embrace the vertical web 15 of a base bracket 16 and that said web 15 is disposed at right angles to the plates 1| and is connected to the projecting ends of said angl .s by means of rivets 11.

In like manner the upper ends of the angles 10 extend somewhat beyond the upper edge of the flange plates 1| to embrace a vertical gusset plate 18 which is disposed at right angles to said plates 1| and is connected to the upper projecting ends of said angles by means of rivets 19.

The horizontal web of the base bracket 16 is provided with suitable apertures to receive anchoring bolts 80 which have been set in the respective concrete piers 6| during the construction of the foundation.

In the erection of the building the several prefabricated columns 41 are mounted upon the respective piers 6| to engage the anchoring bolts 80 thereof 8|, as shown in Figure 15.

I connect the upper ends of the several columns 41 by means of intermediate horizontal bridge beams 85 which are of angle tion as shown in Figures 19 and 20. The several bridge beams 85 are of duplicate construction and their opposite ends extend between the upwardly projecting ends of the angles 10 of the adjacent columns 41 and are connected thereto by bolts 86, in the manner illustrated in Figure 20. The medial portion of each bridge beam 85 is provided with a pair of vertically aligned anchor plates 81 which have angled feet by means of which they are secured, as by riveting, to the respective upper and lower sides of the horizontal web of said beam.

The frame structure, as thus far described, provides a circular series of relatively spaced load supporting columns having their lower ends anchored to a part of the building foundation and their upper ends connected by intermediate bridge beams. This structure also includes a gusset plate for each column and anchor plates positioned at the medial portion of each bridge beam with all of said gusset and anchor plates being radially disposed in relation to the vertical axis of the building.

The frame structure of the outer walls and dome roof of the building will now be described, it being observed that the principal supporting members thereof comprise a plurality of arcuate truss beams 90 of the character illustrated in Figure 26 and that these truss beams supplant the conventional studding and rafters of the ordinary prior building constructions.

These arcuate beams, as complete building units, are preferably shipped in the required quantity to the building site.

Each beam 90 comprises four marginal rod members 9| bent to arcuate form and arranged in two transversely matched longitudinally parallel pairs which are transversely spaced to receive therebetween, diagonal brace members 92 (see Figure The ends of each aligned pair of the marginal rod members are curved inwardly and the inturned ends 93 and 94 thereof lie flush against one another and are secured together, as by welding.

The several diagonal brace members 82 may be and are rigidly secured in place by 'nuts fabricated at the factory and separate pieces but in the preferred construction each series thereof will be formed of a length of rod stock angularly bent at intervals to the desired configuration and assembled with the several apexes thereof disposed between the adjacent pairs of the arcuate marginal rods 9|, to which they will be secured by welding, as indicated at 95. The extreme ends 96 of the brace rods 82 are bent inwardly at an acute angle and are welded to the inturned ends 93 and 94 of the rods 9|, as indicated at 81.

As shown in Figures 6, "l, and 26, each arcuate truss beam 98 is further provided with relatively spaced pairs of oppositely positioned tie plates 98 and 99 which are welded to the adjacent rod members 9| and which serve a purpose to be later described.

In the erection of the first story of the building the arcuate truss beams 90 thereof are relatively spaced around the circular plan of the foundation and their lower ends are supported upon and anchored to the concrete footing 88.

These truss beams converge upwardly and inwardly toward the vertical axis of the building and are disposed in positions so that each alternate truss beam is in radial alignment with one of the load supporting columns 41 and its vertical gusset plate 18 and so that each intermediate truss beam is in radial alignment with the vertical anchor plates 81 of the intermediate bridge beams 85 which connect the upper ends of the adjacent columns.

The means employed for anchoring the lower end of each arcuate beam 98 to the foundation footing 68 is shown in Figures 4 and 5 and comprises an. anchor bracket use which rests upon the footing 6t and is secured thereto by means of a U-shape anchoring bolt mi embedded in the concrete. The vertical web N2 of the bracket m0 extends upwardly between the opposite pairs of the rod members til at the lower end of the beam and the beam is permanently secured to this vertical web by means of a pair of oppositely disposed generally U-shape clamping members 183 and associated bolts HM- which tightly clamp the engaged parts together.

With particular reference to Figures 15 and 20, it will be noted that the upper end of each arcuate beam that aligns with one of the upright columns 41 is connected to the vertical gusset plate 18 of that column, and from an examination of Figure 20 it will be seen that the upper end of each alternate beam 90 is connected to the vertical anchor plates 81 which are carried by the intermediate bridge beam 85 which connects the upper ends of the adjacent columns. The means employed for connecting the upper ends of the arcuate beams '98 to the respective gusset and anchor plates 18 and 81 are duplicates of the means which clamp the lower ends of said beams to the anchoring brackets I00 and comprise clamp members Ba and associated bolts "Ma.

The arcuate beams 98 are supplemented by horizontal braces which connect the adjacent beams at relatively spaced intervals and which are generally designated by the reference numeral H0 (see Figures 4 and 6).

Each of these braces consists of a generally ractangular rod structure having side members HI and H2 and a central longitudinal member H3, these being connected by transverse members H4 and diagonal reinforcing members H5 welded thereto to form a more or less rigid unit, of the configuration shown in Figure 6. The side member III is formed with inturned hooked ends Ia and in assembling these horizontal braces with the erected arcuate beams 90 these hooked ends IIIa are first inserted in holes previously formed in the tie plates 38, and the ends of the side member II2 (which is flat bar form) are then inserted behind the projecting ends of the inner tie plates 89 as shown in Figure 6, the ends of the member IIZ being subsequently bolted at I09 to the plates 99 to maintain this brace unit H in position.

Referring to Figure 21, it will be observed that the relatively short arcuate beams 90a which support the roof of the patio P are similar in construction to the previously described arcuate beams 90 and are anchored at their upper ends in the same manner asare the beams 90. However, the lower ends of these short beams 90a differ from the beams 90 in that their side members are continuous at such lower ends and in that said lower ends require no anchoring means such as are employed in connection with the lower ends of the beams 90.

The frame structure which functions as the floor joists of the second story of the building will now be described with particular reference to Figures 15, 17 and 20 of the drawings.

This floor structure comprises a series of radially disposed straight joist beams I30 each formed of four rod members I3I and intermediate diagonal reinforcing members I 32, these being shaped and welded together in a manner similar to the rod members 9| and 92 of the arcuate beams 90. These joist beams I30 are secured at their outer ends to the respective vertical gusset plates 18 of the several columns 41 by means of clamp members I 03b and associated bolts I04b while their inner ends are secured to a plurality of connecting plates I33 by means of similar clamp members I030 and associated bolts I040. At the vertical axis of the building these connecting plates I33 cross and for this purpose half of them are notched upwardly, as at I34 and the others thereof are notched downwardly, as at I35, with these notches coengaging in the assembled structure to form what may be termed a notched joint. This assembly of notched plates should be welded at the notched junction point to make them integral. The joist beams I30 are supplemented with braces which connect the adjacent beams at relatively spaced intervals. They are similar to the braces I I 0 in Figure 6 except that they do not require the flat bar H3. No intermediate sheets are required in this floor.

The ceiling plates I36 may be secured to the rods I3I of the joist beams I30 by means similar to that illustrated in Figure 9 or by any other suitable means, and the second story flooring I31 may be secured to said joist beams in any desired manner.

The exterior wall structure of the dome or second story 4| of the building, except as to details which will later be described, is of the same construction as is the above described exterior wall structure of the first story, and includes arcuate truss beams, horizontal brace units, intermediate wall plates, exterior sheathing and interior sheathing all assembled and connected by the same types of means as are the like parts of the lower exterior wallstructure.

In the erection of said upper wall structure, the lower end of each arcuate truss beam 90b straddles the vertical gusset plate I8 of the associated load bearing column 41, and is secured thereto by clamp members I03d and bolts I04d, while the upper ends of radially opposite beams 90b strad-.

preferably of e dle opposite edges of a connecting plate I 40 and are secured thereto by clamp members I03e and bolts Me. The several connecting plates I40 are notched in the same manner as are the connect ing plates I33 which join the inner ends of the floor joist beams I30 and function in a like manner to join the several arcuate beams 30b at the apex of the dome.

From the preceding description it will be evident that my improved building includes a continuous exterior hollow wall and roof structure which provides adjacent and separate outer and inner air passages to be utilized for insulating purposes.

At the apex of the dome is secured by suitable means an exterior cap plate Ill through which may project suitable outlets I42 for water and electricity for use in cleaning and polishing. the exterior surface of the building.

The cap plate I is provided with an axially positioned ball or shaft fltting I43 which may be rotatably engaged by a cup or cylinder fitting I carried by the upper end of a ladder I45. As indicated in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 25 this ladder conforms to the exterior vertical contour of the building and may be provided at its lower end with one or more rollers I46 engaging the circular foundation footing 60. This ladder may easily and quickly be propelled around the building to permit easy access to any portion of the exterior building surface for washing and polishing or to perform an necessary maintenance service.

Referring particularly to Figures 15 and 16, it will be noted that the finish housing 41a of each load supporting column 41 is made up of two semi-circular half sections, each formed and spot welded to semi-circular straps 41d which serve to maintain their form. These half sections are provided with opposed longitudinal flanges 4111 which, when said half sections are applied to the column, engage the opposite longitudinal side portions of the flange plate II of said column.

In the completed building, the vertical edge portions of the opposed wall plates 46a, which form the partition wall 46, will contact the adjacent flanges 41b and these plates and flanges will be joined to the column flange plate 1!, preferably by screws 410.

Each of the column housings include a split base flange He and a split cap flange 41x both of which will be secured in place by invisible fastening means. These. flanges or caps may be of metal or plastic material.

As is shown in Figure 18, the interior wall 46 1 (except where it is provided with door openings) rests in a wall footing I 50 which is secured to the flooring 63 or to the concrete floor 62 if the flooring 63 is not employed.

With the frame structure erected in the manner above described, the sheathing may be applied thereto, preferably in the following order: 1st, the exterior sheathing, 2nd the intermediate wall, and 3rd the inside wall. Application of sheathing and wall plates should start at the top and progress downwardly.

This exterior sheathing comprises a series of sheet metal arcuat'e plates 64 which diminish in width from their lower to their upper ends to coincide with the disposition of the several arcuate beams to which they are to be attached.

The plates 84 are fabricated at the factory to contain the desired window and door openings and such other apertures as may be necessary and they may also be stamped to panel form or cone design, such for example as is desirable or necestain other decorativ shown in Figure 31, if this or sheathing plates 54 64a of insulating matedispensed with,

ry. Generally these exteri cked by a layer rial although such layer may be as will later be As illustrate plates 64 are each the space between with their side edges 1 ill of such beams, it

d in Figures 5 to 8, the sheathing of the proper width ent arcuate beams ainst the rear rods ted that the adthe center 0! eachbeam;

inserted therebethe two outer rods 9! of means comprises an arm- -shape in cross section and relatively spaced interting lugs l2! vals, provide having wedge receiv therein. The exterior web 0 as flocir'pfll have pressed thereon a which engage the inner rods 9| of the arcuate beams 90 in a manner similar to the engagement of exterior sheathing plates 64a with the outer rods 9| of said beams. This is particularly well illustrated in Figure 9 wherein there is also shown a preferred means which may be employed for securing the inner sheathing plates to the arcu-- ate beams. This means comprises T-head anchor bolts 126 which extend through suitable apertures in a sealing strip I21 and a finish strip I28 which will be subsequently pressed over the strip 121 to hide the bolt ends and their associated nuts. In applying this securing means the bolts I26 will be inserted between the adjacent plates 55 and rods 9| and then turned 90 degrees to cause a hook engagement of their T-heads with said rods 9|, the associated nuts then being tightened to clamp the plates 65 to the rods 9 l'.

I'hat portion of the circular wall which defines the patio, and is therefore an exterior wall, is somewhat thicker than the interior walls and comprises relatively spaced inner, outer, and intermediate wall plates l5l, I52 and I53, as shown in Figure 21.

---- mmm inined to the adjacent columns winter months and cooled air during the summer months.

Air from the duct I13 will flow through suitable grilles I15 and into the living room L. Air will also flow from said duct I13 through grille openings I16 in the ceiling plate I19 and after circulating in the adjacent outer room will pass there from through grille openings IT? in the ceiling plate I19 and through the duct I12 back to the air conditioning unit.

As will be observed from an examination of Figures 1, 3 and 12 at circularly spaced intervals the foundation footing 99 is provided with air intake openings I80 which communicate with the lower end of the outer air passage Bl of the arcuate exterior walls and these openings are each provided with an exterior louvered grille I8I. In Figure 3 it will be seen that I provide, in the exterior sheathing of the building, lower and upper series of vents I82 and I83, respectively, which communicate with the air passage 67 and which are provided with louvered grilles I84.

This arrangement provides for a natural circulation of exterior air inwardly through the several grilles I8I and openings I80 and upwardly.within the air, passage 67 of the exterior wall to discharge partly through the vents I82 and partly through the vents I83, such air circulation producing, during hot weather, a cooling effect which will appreciably reduce the interior temperature of the building.

In winter months when it is desired to maintain within the building the heat generated by the hot air heating system, the several grilles I8I and I84, which are of a removable character as shown in Figures 11, 24 and 25, and may each be closed with an auxiliary plate placed within the perforated plates which will seal the air passage 61 and convert it into a closed dead air space effective as an insulating medium. The inner space 68 is entirely sealed, having no connection with either outside air space or with interior room spaces.

In Figures 11 to 14 is shown a preferred construction of the several windows 59 and 5| that are incorporated in the exterior walls of the building.

At each window location the exterior and interior sheathing plates 64 and 65 are countersunk and are apertured to form a window opening of suitable size to receive the window structure, the intermediate wall plate 56 being similarly apertured.

A rectangular channel frame I99 surrounds the window opening between the sheathing plates 64 and 65, and welded to each perpendicular side of this channel frame at predetermined points is an angle iron I9I by which this frame is secured to the arcuate truss and building framework with bolts I92 through members b and c (Figure 40). The edges of the window apertures in the sheathing plates 64 and 65 are secured to said channel frame by clamp strips I, Which also hold the sash units, as later explained in more detail.

The window structure comprises relatively spaced inner and outer window panes I93 and I94 which are mounted in opposed pairs in individual sash frames I95. Each sash frame I95 is formed to provide two parallel and inwardly opening channels I 96 which receive a cushion channel strip I91 that embraces the marginal edges of the glass window pane, as shown in Figure 13.

Disposed horizontally and in vertically spaced light.

\ relationship within the chamber between the opposed window panes I93 and I94 of each sash frame I95 are a series of window blind slats I98 each of which is provided at its opposite ends with centrally disposed trunnions I99 that are journaled in the adjacent side walls of the sash frame I95. This pivoted slats I99 enable them to be variously tilted between open and closed positions in a manner similar to the standard forms of Venetian blinds.

The several completed sash units, containing the window panes and the window blind slats, are assembled one upon the other within the window opening, the adjacent sash units having between them double headed sealing strips 299, of rubber or other suitable material, which embrace the horizontal channel portions I96 of said units, as shown in Figure 14.

Means are provided for clamping the several sash units in place within the window opening, and such means is shown in detail in Figure 13 as comprising opposed clamp strips 29I and associated clamp bolts 202 which are tightened to draw said clamp strips tightly against the sheathing plates 64 and 65 around the window opening and against the adjacent sides of the several assembled sash units, there being pliable sealing strips 293 inserted between these clamp strips 29I and the adjacent parts to form a weather proof connection. A relatively thin spring metal finish strip 204 may be pressed upon the clamp strips 29I to conceal the ends of the clamp bolts 292, and forms a neat and attractive window trim.

As shown in'Figure 13, one of the trunnions I99 of each tiltable slat I98 of each sash unit is provided with a toothed sprocket 205 and, from an examination of Figure 12, it will be observed that an endless chain 236 engages the several slat sprockets 205 and also a drive sprocket 29] carried by an actuating shaft 298 which is journaled in one or more brackets 299 mounted upon the frame channel I99. This shaft 208 is provided with an actuating lever 2I9 which extends through a suitable slot 2II in the inner sheathing plate 65 and is accessible from the interior of the building for operation to adjust the several window blind slats I98 in unison.

A modified window blind construction is illustrated in Figures 35 and 36 and contemplates the employment of window blind slats 2I5 which are formed of thin pliable strips of opaque or translucent material which will either obstruct the passage of light or will suitably diffuse such Materials which may be used for this purpose are various fabricsv metals, finely woven screen materials or colored cellophane and like materials.

Window blind slats of such pliable materials must be maintained in a taut condition and for this purpose this modified construction provides at both ends of each slat 2I5 a pivotal connection embodying a tension means formed of a coil spring 2; carried by the sash frame I95 and centrally connected to the slat 2I5 by chain links 2|! which will permit the required limited tilting of said slat. The ends of each slat are provided with a drum 2| 8, and the means operatively connecting the drums of the several slats comprises an endless cord 2| 9 which is wrapped around each drum of the entire series of window blind slats.

The window frame and window sash units of the windows 52 are similar in construction to mounting of the several the windows 50 and except that the sash units here employed are not provided with window blinds. However, it will be understood that if it is desirable or necessary to provide these windows 52 with blinds of the character heretofore described, this may readily be done in the same manner as previously described.

Each light well 53 that is associated with one of the windows 52 leads inwardly and downwardly through the second story floor structure to register with a light opening in the first story ceiling, which opening is preferably closed by a sky light 220. The interior surfaces of the walls of the light well 53 should have a highly reflective finish which will reflect the incoming light downwardly through the sky light 220, and this sky light will preferably be of a character capable of diffusing said reflected light before it passes into the living room L.

In Figures 3'7 and 38 I have illustrated a suspended door mechanism which may be employed in any of the straight partitions of the building, in place of the usual hinged doors.

In this construction the relatively spaced partition walls 230 are provided with aligned door openings 23L and a pair of doors 232 are positioned to swing between said partition walls from the full line closed positions to the dotted line open positions shown in Figure 3'1.

Each door 232 is hung on the lower free ends of a pair of parallel hanger links 233 and 234 which at their upper ends are pivotally mounted on a fixed transverse supporting beam 235 secured to the arcuate beam on one end and inner wall stud on the other end. A stationary journal bar 236 suspends from the medial portion of the beam 235 and has journaled thereon a toggle lever 231, the opposite ends of which are connected by toggle links 238 with the hanger links 233 of the two doors 232. The doors are preferably of hollow construction and the hanger links pass through suitable slots 239 formed in the top and inner edges of the doors and extend downwardly between the opposite panels thereof.

This link and toggle connection insures uniform comparable opening and closing movements of the two doors.

It will be noted that when the doors are open their hanger links will assume the angular positions indicated in dotted lines in Figure 37. For this reason the doors when released have a tendency to return to their closed positions in which the hanger links are vertical.

To control this tendency so that the doors will remain in open or intermediate positions until manually closed and to enable said doors to be actuated with a minimum of appl ed physical force I provide a variable counterbalance means which is associated with one of the doors.

This control means comprises a cable drum 240 disposed between the partition walls 230 at one side of the door opening and rotatably mounted on a shaft 241, an actuating cable 242 having one end connected to the outer edge of the near door and its other end secured to and rove around said drum, a snail pulley 243 having a spiral peripheral groove (as shown in Figure 38) and connected to the drum 240 to rotate therewith, a weight cable 244 having its upper end secured in said peripheral groove at the outer end 245 thereof, and a counterbalance weight 245 hung on the lower free end of the cable 244.

With the doors closed, as shown in Figure 37, the snail pulley 243 will be in the position shown and the weight cable 244 will be rove around said pulley in the peripheral groove thereof to hang downwardly from the inner end 241 of said groove, in the manner shown in Figure 38. Under this condition the weight 246 will, through the weight cable 244, exert the least rotational pull on the snail pulley 243 and its associated cable drum 240 at the point 241 which is closest to the axis of the snail pulley. Thus the snail pulley will at this time function as a relatively short lever arm through which the counterbalance weight will exert on the cable drum 240' and its cable 242 a minimum pull. The weight 246 will be of such poundage that the weight of the doors will overcome said minimum pull to a degree just sufficient to insure the doors remaining in their closed positions.

As the doors are manually opened, the weight 245 will, through its cable 244, rotate the snail pulley and cable drum in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3'1 to unwind said cable from the peripheral groove of said snail pulley. As the weight cable 244 unwinds, the weight will descend and the counterbalancing pull will be exerted on the pulley at gradually increasing radial distances from the axis thereof until, in the fully open positions of the doors, the weight will be vertically suspended from the outer maximum radius end 245 of the snail pulley, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3'7.

The effect of this unwinding of the cable 244 from the spiral groove of the snail pulley 243 is to cause said pulley to function as a gradually increasing lever arm through which the effective pull exerted by the counterbalance weight 246 is progressively increased as the doors 232 are opened. The effective contour of the snail pulley 243 in relation to the weight of the doors 232 and the poundage of the counterbalance weight 246 will be such that the counterbalancing effect will be Sufiicient to maintain door openings of any degree.

In Figures 32, 33 and 34 I have disclosed a preferred type of concrete form which may be employed in constructing the footing "on the concrete foundation of the building.

The form is of sectional character and is formed of detachably connected parts which may be easily disconnected from each other and from the concrete footing after it has become set.

Each form section includes outer and inner substantially rectangular sheet metal side plates 250 and 25l each of which is backed by a reinforcing angle iron framework welded thereto and comprising top and bottom rails 252 and 253, end rails 254 and two intermediate brace rails 255. The outer plate of the foundation form may be improved with a rock, brick, block or other desired design, giving the exposed side of foundation 60 the respective resultant effect. The reinforced side plates are connected together in parallel spaced relationship by transverse clamp bolts 256 which pass through said plates and through associated spacing sleeves 251 whose opposite ends abut the adjacent side plates 250 and 25L This form section is maintained'in its proper position upon the ground by means of angle iron anchor stakes 258 which are driven into the ground and are provided with transverse stop pins 259 that serve to limit the depth to which such stakes are driven. Each anchor stake 258 is provided with an elongated vertical slot 260 which permits adjustment of form to proper foundation level and in which is disposed a bolt 2ol having a right angled inner hook end that extends vertically through an accommodat- 

